21 best family movies on Netflix Canada these days

You’ve made the popcorn, prepared the snacks and snuggled up on the couch. Now it’s time to pick the best flick to enjoy with the fam. Netflix has an extensive library of kids’ content that might be a little overwhelming and time-consuming to peruse. That’s why we’ve curated this list of the best kids’ movies on the platform right now to make your choice a little easier.

From superheroes to legos, talking animals and spies, you’re sure to find something on this list to please everyone at your next family movie night.

1. The Secret Life of Pets

Max is a spoiled terrier living his best life with his owner Katie in New York, until one day Katie brings him home a new brother. Struggling to deal with his annoying (and huge!) sibling, Max and his furry sibling Duke end up getting entangled in all kinds of trouble, from wild street cats to animal control and finally a gang of abandoned pets. Will they be able to make it home safely to Katie?

2. Peter Rabbit

Based on Beatrix Potter’s classic tale, this film combines live action and animation. Join Peter Rabbit and his fluffy family as he gets into trouble with the next generation of the McGregor family from the original novel.

3. Matilda

Faced with a cruel school principal and her shameless family, child prodigy Matilda Wormwood discovers that her brain is even more powerful than she thought—she can move things with her mind. In the film adaptation of the Roald Dahl favourite, the young girl learns to use her powers to stand up to bullies in her life. 

4. Abominable

Featuring gorgeous animation, this instant classic follows the adventures of an introverted Shanghai teen named Yi and the young Yeti she meets on her roof. Together, they embark on a journey to reunite her new friend Everest with his family at the highest point on Earth. 



5. Sonic the Hedgehog

The world’s speediest hedgehog was just starting his new life on Earth when his powers were discovered by an evil scientist, Dr. Robotnik. With help from his new friend, the small-town sheriff Tom, Sonic must outrun Dr. Robotnik and spoil his plans to rule the world.

6. The Bee Movie

Barry the bee is unsatisfied with his life. After graduation, he refuses to be stuck in the hive, so he decides to go out and explore the world. While out there, he’s shocked to discover that humans have been stealing honey from bees for years. Outraged, Barry and his new human friend try to put a stop to it.



7. Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse

If your kids love Spider-Man, they’re in for a ride with this animated multiverse adventure. Miles Morales’ growing pains are a little different than most teenagers. When he is bitten by a radioactive spider, Miles has to deal with his new powers and the discovery that there are others like him. Going up against the evil Kingpin with a team of Spider-Mans trying to make it back to their own universes, will Miles be up for the challenge?

8. Paddington

After a British geographer discovers a new species of bear with great intelligence and a serious sweet tooth, one of them turns up at Paddington Station in London, where he’s taken in by the Brown family and must make a new life for himself far from the jungle. 



9. Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs

In the coastal town of Swallow Falls, a declining economy forces residents to live on a boring sardine-based diet. That is, until aspiring scientist and inventor, Flint Lockwood, invents a machine that can turn water into food in the hopes of solving the town’s problems. But when the machine malfunctions, the town is threatened by spaghetti tornadoes and giant meatballs! You’re definitely gonna need snacks to accompany this delicious adventure.



10. Chickenhare and The Hamster of Darkness

Born half chicken and half hare, Chickenhare wants desperately to belong and feel accepted despite being different. When his evil uncle, Lapin, escapes prison, Chickenhare embarks on an adventure with his two trusted friends to find the Hamster of Darkness, a powerful ancient artifact, before Lapin gets to it.

11. Kung Fu Panda

When an evil snow leopard threatens Po’s homeland, it is up to him and his friends to protect everyone. The only issue is that Po is the clumsiest panda around. Can he work hard to learn the martial arts skills necessary to defeat the evildoer? Po’s martial arts adventures continue in Kung Fu Panda 2 and 3, also available on Netflix.

12. Shrek

In this unconventional fairy tale, Shrek finally finds the princess of his dreams, but can she ever learn to love an ogre? You can never have enough Shrek, and thankfully Netflix has you covered with the whole Shrek franchise available for streaming.

13. Megamind

If your kid is obsessed with superheroes, Megamind is the perfect twist on the classic dynamic of good versus evil. Megamind is the most brilliant supervillain in the world, but when he finally defeats his arch-nemesis, he finds that life has lost all meaning. Can he find a way to fill the void?

14. Back to the Outback

Tired of being treated as a spectacle for humans to gawk at with fear, a group of Australia’s “deadliest” creatures (plus one Koala) make an escape from the zoo. If you were ever looking for a cure for your kids’ fear of snakes or spiders, this might just be it.



15. The Lego Movie

Emmet is an ordinary law-abiding Lego figurine who gets mistaken for The Special, a prophesied hero tasked with saving the world. Armed with nothing but positive thinking, will Emmet and the league of superheroes be able to defeat Lord Business and return peace to the world?

16. How to Train Your Dragon

Hiccup lives in a world where the rules are pretty simple: either you end dragons or they will end you. But when he traps a dragon of his own and befriends it, he finds out that there’s more to dragons than meets the eye.

17. Smurfs

New York City gets a whole lot bluer in this film when the Smurfs come crashing in. Watch these blue-tiful creatures try to navigate New York in their effort to get home. However, when an evil wizard wants to capture the Smurfs’ essence, things get dicey.

18. Happy Feet Two

 You’ll be singing along with these adorable penguins in the sequel to Happy Feet. Erik hasn’t inherited his tap-dancing dad Mumble’s moves, so he seeks a role model elsewhere. But when new forces threaten the penguin population, father and son must join forces to save their home. 

19. Turbo

Turbo is a little snail with big dreams. His one wish is to become fast. This wish gets granted when a freak accident gives Turbo the power of superspeed. Leaving his snail-paced life behind, Turbo ventures to achieve another impossible dream: winning the Indianapolis 500!



20. Hotel Transylvania

Wishing to protect his little girl Mavis from the dangers of the outside world, Count Dracula builds a hotel resort where monsters can be safe from humans. But Dracula’s world is threatened when a clueless human wanders into the hotel during Mavis’ 118th birthday celebration. You’re bound to fall in love with this monster family. After watching the original, don’t forget the sequels! Hotel Transylvania 2 and Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation are also available on Netflix.

21. Klaus

In this Netflix original, a postman is unwillingly sent to a frozen island rife with conflict and strife. There he forms an unlikely friendship with a reclusive toymaker named Klaus and the two work together to bring joy and warmth to the coldest of hearts. Get in the holiday spirit with this heartwarming alternative Santa Claus origin story.